The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the dedicated team responsible for the Trusted Employers Scheme showcase the efficiency of the new scheme. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for each approved employer was shared earlier this month on 9 February and within 10 days the counter signed MOU document has been returned to employers ready for the Scheme roll out on 1 March 2024.

Employers will, by the end of this week, be able to commence the first set of visa applications under the Scheme. This means that all visa applications submitted at VFS in various provinces in South Africa to DHA Head Office, or at any of the representative offices abroad being the different South African High Commissions, Embassies, and VFS centres, will be accepted under the new Scheme for approved employers.

The submission will require fewer documents which the company undertakes and has been entrusted to check on behalf of Home Affairs. These include SAQA qualification verifications and professional body registrations for Critical Skills Visa, Waivers for General Work Visa and Skills Transfer Plans for Intra Company Transfer Work Visas.

The applications will also be processed expeditiously in line with the MOU, by these relevant adjudicating offices. The processing time being –

• All long-term visa applications              5 – 20 days 
• Short term visas (up to 90 days)           5 days 
• Waiver and Appeal applications            60 – 70 days 
• Permanent Residence Permits              8 months

The Department of Home Affairs is off to a strong start, and we look forward to supporting the Department in this project which aims to alleviate the administrative burden on the Department while allowing business to mobilise talent efficiently.

Issued by XpatWeb